Vigilance

This fine gilded weather**** (symbolising vigilance) sits atop the tower at the church of St Peter, Winchcombe in the Cotswolds. In the 9th century, a papal decree ordered that every church should have a cockerel on its dome, as a reference to Peter's betrayal of Jesus and a reminder of the Christian faith. The Bayeux tapestry, commissioned by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, includes a depiction of a craftsman installing a cockerel weathervane atop Westminster Abbey. On the English Buildings blogspot (about Winchcombe, Gloucestershire), the author Philip Wilkinson recounts in December 2008 that "The fine weathercock was regilded recently and looked about 5 feet five tall when, swathed in bubblewrap, it was hoisted back up the tower. It came here in 1874 from the much larger church of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. According to which version of the story you believe it was either too small or too big for the spire of St Mary Redcliffe. A stonemason who worked on the Bristol spire claimed he’d climbed on to, or into, the cockerel, ‘which was the size of a donkey’. Having seen the bird close-up, I can tell you that’s not such a cock and bull story as it sounds."

[quote]Very well taken - apparently before its installation, but the angle gives the effect of the final location!
Moira[/quote]
Hello Moira,
Thanks for your vote/comment.
This was actually taken last year on full zoom - with me firmly on the ground at the foot of the tower and the weathercock high above on top of the tower.
Best wishes,
Philip

Quote:Very well taken - apparently before its installation, but the angle gives the effect of the final location!
Moira

Hello Moira,

Thanks for your vote/comment.

This was actually taken last year on full zoom - with me firmly on the ground at the foot of the tower and the weathercock high above on top of the tower.

After spending a month in Monsanto, PT, I have become very fond of Rooster weather vanes--- Monsanto had wone a prize for being the most Portuguese village, the prize included a silver cock weather vane--
This is photographed so well, standing proud!

After spending a month in Monsanto, PT, I have become very fond of Rooster weather vanes--- Monsanto had wone a prize for being the most Portuguese village, the prize included a silver **** weather vane--